Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
1Then Elihu continued, saying: | 1Elihu continued speaking, and said: |
2Hear my words, you wise ones, and listen to me, you knowledgeable ones. | 2"Listen to what I have to say, you wise men! Pay attention to me, you educated people! |
3Doesn't the ear test words as the palate tastes food? | 3Since the ear tests words like a palate tastes food, |
4Let us judge for ourselves what is right; let us decide together what is good. | 4let's choose what's right for us. Let's consider among ourselves what is good." |
5For Job has declared, "I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice. | 5Now this is Job's claim: 'Even though I'm innocent, God has stopped treating me righteously. |
6Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression." | 6Have I lied concerning the justice that I deserve? My wound is incurable, though transgression cannot be attributed to me.' |
7What man is like Job? He drinks derision like water. | 7"What man is like Job, who drinks mockery like water, |
8He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men. | 8traffics in those who practice evil, and walks with wicked people? |
9For he has said, "A man gains nothing when he becomes God's friend." | 9Because he says, 'There's no profit for a man to find joy with God.'" |
10Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding. It is impossible for God to do wrong, and for the Almighty to act unjustly. | 10"Therefore you men of understanding, listen to me! Far be it for God to practice wickedness, or the Almighty to do what is wrong, |
11For he repays a person according to his deeds, and he gives him what his conduct deserves. | 11because he repays a person for his behavior; and according to a person's conduct, he lets it happen to him. |
12Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly and the Almighty does not pervert justice. | 12Truly, God doesn't practice wickedness, and the Almighty doesn't pervert justice. |
13Who gave him authority over the earth? Who put him in charge of the entire world? | 13Who entrusted the earth to him? Who made him responsible for the entire inhabited world? |
14If he put his mind to it and withdrew the spirit and breath he gave, | 14If he were to decide to do so, that is, to take back to himself his spirit and breath of life, |
15every living thing would perish together and mankind would return to the dust. | 15every living thing would die all at once, and mankind would return to dust." |
16If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I have to say. | 16If you have understanding, listen to this! Pay attention to what I have to say: |
17Could one who hates justice govern the world? Will you condemn the mighty Righteous One, | 17Can one who hates justice really govern? And if God is righteous and mighty, can you condemn him? |
18who says to a king, "Worthless man!" and to nobles, "Wicked men!"? | 18Can one say to a king, 'You're vile!' or to nobles, 'You're wicked!'? |
19God is not partial to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands. | 19Who isn't partial to princes? Who doesn't give preference to the nobles over the poor? Nevertheless, all of them are his handiwork. |
20They die suddenly in the middle of the night; people shudder, then pass away. Even the mighty are removed without effort. | 20"They die suddenly, in the middle of the night; people suffer seizures and pass away; even valiant men can be taken away— and not by human hands. |
21For his eyes watch over a man's ways, and he observes all his steps. | 21Yes, Job, his eyes constantly watch the behavior of human beings; he carefully observes their every step. |
22There is no darkness, no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide. | 22There's no such thing as darkness to him— not even deep darkness— that can conceal those who practice evil. |
23God does not need to examine a person further, that one should approach him in court. | 23He won't examine mankind further, that they would go before God to judgment. |
24He shatters the mighty without an investigation and sets others in their place. | 24He shatters valiant men without a need to investigate, and he raises others in their place. |
25Therefore, he recognizes their deeds and overthrows them by night, and they are crushed. | 25Thus he acknowledges their behavior, and overcomes them; when night time comes, they are crushed. |
26In full view of the public, he strikes them for their wickedness, | 26"He strikes the wicked among them in a place where they can be seen |
27because they turned aside from following him and did not understand any of his ways | 27because they've abandoned their pursuit of him and had no respect for any of his ways. |
28but caused the poor to cry out to him, and he heard the outcry of the needy. | 28As a result, the cries of the poor have reached him and he has heard the cry of the afflicted. |
29But when God is silent, who can declare him guilty? When he hides his face, who can see him? Yet he watches over both individuals and nations, | 29"If he remains silent, who will condemn him? If he conceals his face, who can see him? He watches over both nation and individual alike, |
30so that godless men should not rule or ensnare the people. | 30to keep the godless man from reigning or laying a snare for the people." |
31Suppose someone says to God, "I have endured my punishment; I will no longer act wickedly. | 31"Has anyone ever really told God, 'I've endured, and I won't act corruptly anymore. |
32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I won't do it again." | 32What I don't see, instruct me! If I've done anything evil, I won't repeat it!' |
33Should God repay you on your terms when you have rejected his? You must choose, not I! So declare what you know. | 33"Should you not be paid back, since you have rejected him? You do the choosing! I won't! Tell us what you know! |
34Reasonable men will say to me, along with the wise men who hear me, | 34"Men of understanding, speak to me! Are any of you men wise? Then listen to me! |
35"Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight." | 35Job has been speaking from his own ignorance, and what he has to say lacks insight! |
36If only Job were tested to the limit, because his answers are like those of wicked men. | 36Oh, how Job needs to be given a full court trial, as a rebuke to those who practice evil, |
37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he scornfully claps in our presence, while multiplying his words against God. | 37because he has been adding rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us, and keeps on ranting against God." |
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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